Almanac

Police release sketch of stabbing suspect

by Sandy Brundage

There's a new face wanted by Menlo Park police, who have produced a sketch of one suspect in a stabbing on Monday night, March 26.

An employee of a business complex on Alma Street across from the Caltrain station told police that after stepping outside the building around 9:45 p.m., two men attacked him with knives as they tried to rob him.

He described both suspects as Hispanic and about 5-foot-8-inches tall, with short hair and thin builds.

Menlo Park police reportedly learned of the incident after a call from a Palo Alto police officer who was at the hospital where the victim was taken. After interviewing the victim, police were able to produce a sketch of one suspect.

The 67-year-old businessman is recovering from multiple stab wounds and is in stable condition, according to police.

"At this point we're still investigating all the evidence, investigating the timeline and the victim's statement, and really trying to sort out what happened here," Commander Dave Bertini said.

Posted by A recent victim also, a resident of Menlo Park: Menlo Oaks
on Jun 7, 2012 at 2:32 pm

I am SO sorry. I often walk home from the train station. I am a 64 year old female. My story didn't appear anywhere, but last Tuesday I was attacked by a violent schizophrenic on the corner of Hamilton and Guinda in Palo Alto, walking home from the library at 7:30 p.m.

He didn't stab me, but he hit in the head with his fist or whatever was in his fist, and knocked me to the ground when he passed me on the sidewalk. He was a 30-40 year old white male, longish hair, off-white baseball cap, all black clothing. The punch came out of the blue and I didn't see it coming, as I was watching the sidewalk so I wouldn't trip. He was not trying to rob me... just a crazy. He was talking out loud (I thought he was talking on his phone). He was not bad looking (which goes to show you that looks are not the mark of a good person). He was a coward hitting an older woman just walking down the street not bothering anybody.

I made a police report a day and a half later, although I tried to make a report 10 minutes later. I did not have my cell phone with me and I called 911 from Webster House, but they made me stand outside to wait for the police to make my report, saying they didn't want police in there. I had a big goose egg above my temple and needed to get home before dark, so when the police did not show up in 10-15 minutes, I walked home, telling Webster House which way I was going (down Middlefield). I was so shaken I could not call them back. It was my friends who insisted I do, so others would know and so they could catch him (but I figured it was too late). Nobody witnessed it.

The startling thing to me is that my attack did not even appear in the police log in the papers or on line. I made the report so others would know this happened to me... just walking down the street minding my own business trying to get exercise... and would know WHERE it occurred (a really nice Palo Alto neighborhood street).

There are violent thieves out there but there are also violent paranoid schizophrenics, and it is getting VERY scarey around here for young and old (I have lived here over 50 years and make this walk to the library all the time).

I would really like to know where the schizophrenics and homeless are living and receiving assistance so I make sure I do not walk anywhere near them. (And I used to feel compassionate towards them before I was senselessly attacked!)

I am VERY VERY sorry about this poor man and what happened to him, just leaving work. It is disgusting. It also makes me want to stop taking the train, public transportation, or walking. I sure hope they catch the cowardly criminals who did this. My heart goes out to his family.